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Ryan Giggs might have sounded like he was trying to win over some Liverpool hearts when he backed us for the title, but he’s stirred a bit more controversy with his latest comments.

According to the former United star, we are in better shape due to the departure of Steven Gerrard.

“Watching Liverpool it is notable that since Steven Gerrard left there is no big star in the side. Philippe Coutinho is a talent and Jordan Henderson has done well to step into the captaincy. He looks like a good lad and a dedicated professional. Gerrard’s departure has forced others to fill the gap and sometimes that can be a good thing for a club to move away from a focus on one individual.

“In many respects it was the same at United when Roy Keane left in 2005. For years he had been like two players for us and when he left others had to step up to fill the void. What seems different to United is that looking from the outside, Gerrard was always the dominant figure at the club regardless of who the manager might have been. Now that he has left it feels like Klopp is that man.”

Of course, there can be no denying that Gerrard was not the player he was 3/4 years previously by the time he left for the MLS and LA Galaxy in the summer of 2015, but to say that losing such a talismanic club icon was a good thing seems to be a bit of a stretch.

The situation now looks like it is about to come full circle. Gerrard’s time in Los Angeles is coming to an end, and although he’s not officially said he is going to retire, it’s looking more and more like he will become part of Klopp’s backroom staff in the new year.